Freedom Ride raises money for monument

The Fort Benning Sergeants Major Association will have its Fourth Annual POW/MIA Freedom Ride on Sept. 22 to help raise funds to place a POW/MIA monument in Phenix City.

Bikers will begin assembling at 8 a.m. at the Columbus Civic Center/Golden Park parking lot and depart at 10 a.m. The ride's route will pass Columbus' POW/MIA monument outside the Government Center, the planned site for the Phenix City monument on Broad Street and then on to Fort Benning and its monument.

Fort Benning's official POW/MIA recognition ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the National Infantry Museum and is free and open to the public.

The Freedom Ride is for motorcycles only, and minors must be accompanied by an adult. All riders must be registered for permission to ride on Fort Benning. Registration cost is $20 per rider, which includes a Freedom Ride T-shirt and photo.